Downtown festival will return but with changes

Leavenworth Main Street will be organizing another downtown festival this September. But Main Street’s director said this year’s event will be different from the 2012 Buffalo Bill Days Festival.

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By John Richmeier

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By John Richmeier

Posted Jan. 5, 2013 at 8:45 AM

By John Richmeier
Posted Jan. 5, 2013 at 8:45 AM

Leavenworth Main Street will be organizing another downtown festival this September. But Main Street’s director said this year’s event will be different from the 2012 Buffalo Bill Days Festival.

“There will be some changes,” said Wendy Scheidt, executive director for the Leavenworth Main Street Program.

She said this year’s event probably won’t be as spread out in the downtown area as last year’s festival. And it’s not clear yet if the event, which will be held the second week of September, will again be called Buffalo Bill Days.

Scheidt said Main Street officials had talked to several groups in the community about helping with this year’s festival but she’s “not real sure the interest is there.”

“We’re open to volunteers,” she said.

At this point, it appears the Hog Wild West Barbecue contest will return. The contest had its inaugural year at the 2012 Buffalo Bill Days Festival. It was a sanctioned Kansas City Barbecue Society event and a state barbecue competition.

“Everybody likes barbecue,” Scheidt said.

And this year’s contest may offer expanded tasting opportunities.

Scheidt said music is important and she’d like for it to be part of the festival. She said some specialty food vendors also may be included.